Hurricanes reflect on the season it was

By Lethbridge Herald on April 7, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes held their exit interviews on Thursday, a day after the team was swept in the first round of the WHL playoffs by the Moose Jaw Warriors.

It was the second straight year the team has got swept in the first round in the playoffs  and the 10th time in team history.

The second straight season of being swept also marked the first time since 1998 and 1999 that the team got swept in back-to-back years.

Forward Brayden Edwards amassed 28 points in 68 regular season game and added another four points in the playoffs in his first full season with the team.

“Yeah the season was really good,” said Edwards.

“Especially the regular season. You know all our boys, like we overachieved. We weren’t expecting really going into the season to have such a strong year as we did. So we were really happy with that. Some of the teams  we were able to beat during the regular season —  like we really showed how strong of a team we were, especially early on in the year. But yeah it was a tough way to end it. But we’re still really proud of the group we had this year.”

Edwards thought the team’s chemistry and habits improved as the year went along.

“I think … when you start on a new team at the start of the year, it’s always tough and just building those relationships, things like that,” said Edwards.

“Our group …  got really close towards the end of the year. You know, we all love each other, we’re all trying to fight for each other, especially in playoffs. Obviously, yeah it didn’t turn out the way we wanted to. But, yeah, we were a tight-knit group for sure.”

From Edwards’ perspective, the team learned what it takes to win a playoff game.

“We still haven’t won a game in two years in a playoff series here,” said Edwards.

“So we just know the habits we need to take into next year and show how much more work we need to do.”

Although he felt he had a slower start to the year than he would’ve liked, Edwards thought his game picked up later in the year and  down the stretch heading into playoffs.

“I was happy with my game,” said Edwards.

“But overall, I think a better start would have been nice.”

Defenceman Logan McCutcheon feels as though there are a lot of steps to take heading into next year to become a contender.

“I think we all just need to get better in every way we can, do our best to work hard, (and) improve our games as much as possible and just come in with a good mind-set that we can be a team to contend next year,” said McCutcheon.

McCutcheon saw the defensive core come a long way this season.

“We’ve got some really good coaches helping us out and I think that we all improved our games and got a lot better as the year went on,” he said.

The defencemen learned to stick with it as the season went along.

“We had games where we weren’t our best but I think that  we learned from them and we get better from them and we just keep moving forward and getting  better,” said McCutcheon.

The turning point for McCutcheon was after Christmas.

“I think that we had a good second half,” he said.

“And we had a little bit of down month in February, but I think we were able to learn from it and get through it. And I think that was some adversity that we could overcome there.”

Starting goalie opportunities as an 18-year-old rookie do not come by  often, but for Canes netminder Harrison Meneghin it was chance that came upon him early in the season.

“Yeah, obviously being an 18-year-old rookie is not ideal, but yeah obviously take opportunities that you get and yeah just taking that role is good at the beginning of the season,” said Meneghin.

“And yeah just kind of build off it for next year.”

Meneghin will look to build on the opportunity over the offseason by taking the gym more seriously with the realization of playing more games next season.

“So just making sure my body’s fit for the role,” he said.

“And, yeah, obviously I got some experience this year. So just learn from what I got this year and just build on it.”

Meneghin compiled a record of 19-12-2-2 in 36 games, a .905 save percentage and a 2.83 goals against average.

Meneghin thought the team culture improved over the course of the season.

“You know we were good at the beginning of the year,” said Meneghin.

“We had our downs kind of near the end of the season. But  I think just overall the team’s identity was to be physical and I think we got away from that at the end of the year. But at the beginning of the year, we were kind of sticking to that. I think that’s why we had success.”